Leaders Equipping And Resourcing Network (LEARN Global) aims to assist church leaders in their ministerial roles by providing them with targeted resources. Bibles, study aids, worship materials, reading plans - all of these vital resources are unavailable to many ministers throughout the world and LEARN offers them the opportunity to access them. The ministry's website is www.churchleaderslearn.org
View demonstrations of the LEARN Apps here
Project Beginnings in Zimbabwe
In 2011 Rev Mark Armstrong and his wife Lorraine visited Zimbabwe. There they met Christian ministers who actively preach the Word of God throughout the country. Mark and Lorraine soon discovered many ministers had little or no studying resources and in many instances didn't even have a Bible. A vision was given by God to help support the church leaders by providing the necessary aids. Both Mark and Lorraine joined the Christian missionary organization SIM (Serving In Mission) and are now working to fulfil their goal.
Android Tablet & App
Mark approached LHSoftware.net to discuss the best way forward. An Android app was proposed along with a backend system whereby resources could be added securely at any time and synced to the devices. However, as high-speed Internet access is not readily accessible in many parts of Africa the app needed to be able to run without online connectivity. LHSoftware.net accommodated these requirements into a fully working solution that went live in 2019.
Software Solution
An Android app targeting 8-10" tablets has been developed specifically to accommodate LEARN's needs. The main features include:
- Multiple Bible versions
- Interactive ebooks and resources
- Reading Plans
- Tests
- Bible Dictionaries
- Track user progress
- Bookmarks & Notes
- Syncronize new/updated data
- Sermon editor
- ...and much more.
Interactive Studying
The app incorporates a fully interactive Bible while reading a resource. Bible references within the ebooks are highlighted as such and dynamically link with the Bible. Multiple versions of the Bible are also available, also in multiple languages, and offer full interaction like verse highlighting and bookmarking.
Backend Administration
The backend system on churchleaderslearn.org allows LEARN staff and their partners to add and change data on the apps easily. The app syncs with the backend when Internet access is available, downloading both new resources and backing-up user-created content like notes and bookmarks.
Resource Security
Safeguarding resources like ebooks was an essential requirement of the project. Publishers demanded their copyright materials be safeguarded and rightly so. However, traditional methods of securing copyright, like DRM, were prohibitive as Internet access was required to verify the ebook and associate costs became too expensive.
LHSoftware.net designed a multi-tier system to enable ebooks to remain safeguarded from copyright theft. Using high-end encryption and five levels of security, all resources are protected and satisfy the publisher's requirements.
View demonstrations of the LEARN Apps here
LEARN App
